By Erin Rebello

Whether it’s a grilled cheese sandwich, a zesty bowl of salad, or a plateful of spaghetti (with meatballs, of course), lunch is a crucial part of every day! Though breakfast usually receives the title of “most important meal of the day”, lunch acts as a sort of bridge throughout the day, replenishing burned calories and fueling the body up with energy until dinnertime. Unfortunately, since it happens during school hours, this meal is often forgotten or neglected, especially since students usually have to prepare and pack their own food. But what if I told you there was a way to cook up meals that are quick, delicious, and even nutritious? By following the tips below, you’ll be well on your way to packing lunches fit for a king!

Factors to Consider

The first and most basic consideration you should make when prepping your lunch is the nutritional value of your food. Though gummy worms and graham crackers may seem appealing at first, they’ll eventually rot your teeth and give you stomach aches if you eat too much of them. Candy and sugar may give you a temporary rush, but before long you’ll crash and feel even more energy-sapped then before. By choosing healthy foods, you’re keeping your body and brain in tip-top shape to work effectively during the school day. It’s also good to note that healthy doesn’t mean bad-tasting! In fact, if healthy food tastes bad, you’re probably doing it wrong. Be sure to experiment with various foods that meet your nutritional needs and find what works for your tastes to have the best experience in the kitchen! A good way to determine what foods work for you is by reviewing the Canada food guide. This helpful resource offers both food options and amounts, giving you an idea of what to eat and how much of it to eat.

Other than taste and nutrition, you’re probably also concerned about the simplicity of preparing a meal. This is something really important to consider- especially when you’re the one who has to plan and pack the meal! It’s easy to ask your mom or dad to make you a complicated dish for lunchtime, but it’s way harder to do it yourself. Keeping this in mind, you’ll want to consider foods that can be prepared quickly and easily, such as sandwiches for lunch or fruits for snacks. Leftovers from the night before are also a great option since they’re already cooked and only need to be reheated. The more often you prepare your lunch, the more you’ll improve your culinary skills and soon you’ll be experimenting with all sorts of fancy dishes!

Getting Inspired

Though it can be rewarding, everyone admits that packing lunches can get boring or difficult at times. After a while, things may seem to get repetitive and you might feel like you’ve run out of ideas for lunches. Fortunately, we live in the 21st century and there are thousands of free websites, apps, and books available at your fingertips. The social media website Pinterest allows users to swipe through food and lunch recipes and photos, which is a great way to draw inspiration from the creations of others. You can also save your favourite posts to come back to later. There are also plenty of online forums and websites where real people can share their cooking tips and tricks and post their recipes for others to use. If you’re more old-fashioned, you might like to sign out some cookbooks or food magazines from your local library and search for recipes that suit your needs. Looking at other recipes and dishes for inspiration keeps you interested in preparing lunches, while also making your lunches better!

Overall

Though preparing and packing lunches may seem daunting at first, once you get the hang of it, it’ll become second nature. Not only will your cooking skills improve, but also your confidence and independence. The helpful tips in this article should set you on the right path to packing delicious, nutritious, and simple lunches for school! Before you know it, your parents will be asking you to prepare their lunches!